Private and Public Efforts Aim to Help Publicize Country's Often Little-Appreciated Startup Culture

PARIS—A group of French expats recently brought a controversial case back home: Local startups would be better off setting up shop in business-friendly London.

"London is No. 1 for startups after Silicon Valley," said David Blanc, member of an expat group that helped organize a Paris-based event for local entrepreneurs called Red Carpet Day. "It's just so easy."